New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Dongipetwhi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Dongipetwhi’ characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; glossy and dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large flowers with cordate-shaped petals that are bright white in color; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DONGIPETWHI’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR AND APPLICANT

The Inventor and Applicant assert that no sales, publications or advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or the Applicant. Inventor and Applicant claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dongipetwhi’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Koka, Ethiopia and Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new early and freely flowering New Guinea Impatiens plants with large attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in November, 2015 in Koka, Ethiopia of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Rokoko Blanca’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN12-005909-002, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. in April, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylight and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dongipetwhi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dongipetwhi’ as a new and distinct Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant         habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Glossy and dark green to dark greyed green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Large flowers with cordate-shaped petals that are bright         white in color.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Rokoko Blanca’. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Rokoko Blanca’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more vigorous than and not as         compact as plants of ‘Rokoko Blanca’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have slightly smaller flowers         than plants of ‘Rokoko Blanca’.     -   3. Flower margins of plants of the new Impatiens are not         undulate whereas flower margins of plants of ‘Rokoko Blanca’ are         undulate.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more vigorous than and not as         compact as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens flower earlier than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Moorea’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,147. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Moorea’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more vigorous than and not as         compact as plants of ‘Moorea’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have broader flower petals than         plants of ‘Moorea’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are brighter white in         color than flowers of plants of ‘Moorea’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongipetwhi’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongipetwhi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer and early autumn in 16.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea Impatiens production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 26° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 4,500 to 5,500 lux. Plants were 18 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2017 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Dongipetwhi’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Impatiens hawkeri ‘Rokoko Blanca’,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN12-005909-002, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to             seven days at day temperatures about 27° C. and night             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at day temperatures about 27° C.             and night temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and             uniformly mounding plant habit; broad inverted triangle in             overall shape; freely branching habit; bushy and dense             appearance; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate to             rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 28 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 52 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching with about seven to nine             primary lateral branches each with multiple secondary             branches.         -   Length.—About 27 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 6.25 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Color, developing and developed.—Close to 144A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Typically in whorls or opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 10 cm.         -   Width.—About 4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic to narrowly ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Cuneate to attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate with ciliation.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous; glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous; slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: More green than             NN137A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B.             Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker green than             N189A; midvein, proximally, close to 145B to 145C and             distally, close to 144A; lateral venation, close to 147A and             N189A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;             midvein, proximally, close to 145C and distally, close to             145A to 145B; lateral venation, close to 146A.         -   Petiole length.—About 3.25 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Petiole texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Petiole color, upper surface.—Close to 145B to 145C.         -   Petiole color, lower surface.—Close to 145C to 145D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Large single axillary             flowers that are rounded rectangular in shape; freely             flowering habit, typically about three to four fully opened             flowers and three flower buds per lateral branch; flowers             are flat and positioned above and beyond the foliar plane,             flowers typically face mostly upright.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about four to seven             days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals             self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall             in California; early flowering habit, plants typically begin             flowering about twelve weeks from unrooted cuttings.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.             Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat             glossy. Color: Close to 144A and NN155D.         -   Flower diameter.—Large, about 6.5 cm by 5.8 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a             single whorl with one banner petal, two lateral petals and             two lower petals. Length, banner petal: About 3 cm. Length,             lateral petals: About 3.25 cm. Length, lower petals: About             3.5 cm. Width, banner petal: About 4.25 cm. Width, lateral             petals: About 3 cm. Width, lower petals: About 3.25 cm.             Shape, all petals: Cordate. Apex, all petals: Cordate. Base,             all petals: Cuneate. Margin, all petals: Entire, not             undulate. Texture and luster, all petals, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; velvety; slightly glossy; iridescent.             Texture and luster, all petals, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, all petals: When opening             and fully opened, upper surface: Brighter than NN155D; color             does not change with development. When opening and fully             opened, lower surface: Close to NN155D; on banner petal,             midvein, close to 144A; color does not change with             development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;             two laterals are opposite and the third modified into an             elongated spur. Lateral sepal length: About 1.3 cm. Lateral             sepal width: About 6 mm. Lateral sepal shape: Narrowly             ovate. Lateral sepal apex: Acute to acuminate. Lateral sepal             base: Truncate. Lateral sepal margin: Entire, not undulate.             Lateral sepal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Lateral sepal color,             upper surface: Close to 145C. Lateral sepal color, lower             surface: Close to 145A. Spur length: About 4.5 cm. Spur             diameter: At flower, about 2 mm; at apex, less than 1 mm.             Spur shape: Acicular, curved. Spur texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Spur color: Proximally,             close to 145D and distally, close to 145B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong; flexible.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close             to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Filament length: About 4 mm.             Filament color: Close to 158A. Anther length: About 3 mm.             Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to N155B. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158A. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 4.25 mm.             Stigma shape: Crested. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Style             length: About 3.25 mm. Style color: Close to 144A. Ovary             color: Close to 144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Impatiens. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Impatiens     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Impatiens plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging     from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Dongipetwhi’ as illustrated and described. 